Happy birthday, John Oates!

John Oates, born April 7, 1948 in New York City, is half of one of the most successful duo acts in history, Hall & Oates.  He met Daryl Hall while they were attending Temple University in Philadelphia and formed the iconic duo.  He co-wrote many of their songs and was the main guitarist for the group.  

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, as a member of Hall & Oates. 

Oates still records music as a solo artist.  His latest album Reunion was released last year. 

Happy birthday, Daryl Hall!

Daryl Hall, born October 11, 1946 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is half of the super rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. He and partner John Oates have recorded eighteen albums, and Hall has released five solo albums.  He has been nominated for three Grammys with Oates, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on December 16, 2013.

They have also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Here is Family Man, one of my favorites from the band:

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Richie Valens, Chicano rock and roll pioneer

Ritchie Valens, born Richard Valenquela May 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, was a pioneer in rock and roll and a forefather of Chicano rock.  He scored several hits over his short career including La Bamba, which he adapted from a Mexican folk song.  He died February 3, 1959, in a plane crash when he was just 17 years old.  It was the same crash that killed Buddy Holly, J. P. Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson.  

He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Janet Jackson releases "Control" 1986

Janet Jackson released Control, the fourth single from her third album Control.   It won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video in 1988.  It reached #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Play charts.

It is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Carlos Santana, rock musician extraordinaire

Carlos Santana, born July 20, 1947 in Mexico, is a musician who formed the band Santana, pioneering a fusion of rock and roll and Latin American jazz.  He has won ten Grammy awards, eight of them with Santana.  He has won three Latin Grammy Awards, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

Electric Light Orchestra inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017

One of my favorite bands Electric Light Orchestra was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame April 7, 2017, including members Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, Richard Tandy, and Roy Wood.  

Billy Joel inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1999

My man Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame March 15, 1999 by his idol Ray Charles, with whom he performed the duet Baby Grand on his The Bridge album.

Happy birthday, ELO co-founder Roy Wood!

Roy Wood, born November 8, 1946 in Birmingham, England, co-founded Electric Light Orchestra with Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Bev Bevan.  

Wood has been involved in a number of other groups, after leaving ELO in 1972, but was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 as part of ELO.

ABBA inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2010

Swedish super-group ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame March 15, 2010.  The Bee Gees Barry and Robin made the announcement.  ABBA released eight studio albums and have won numerous international music awards.

Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad  were on hand to accept the recognition.  Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog are the other two members of the group.

Genesis was inducted the same night.

Def Leppard, Janet Jackson and Steve Nicks inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

It has been announced just earlier today that Def Leppard, Janet Jackson and Stevie Nicks are among the 2019 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Def Leppard and Stevie Nicks and Roxy Music (another inductee) were all voted in during their first year as nominees.

Stevie is already a member as part of Fleetwood Mac.  Miss Jackson was voted in after her third time as a nominee. 

Def Leppard received the most fan votes, over half a million!

The other inductees are the Cure, Radiohead, and the Zombies.

Billy Joel receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 2004

My man Billy Joel got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, September 20, 2004!  He joked about writing the song Say Goodbye to Hollywood, and now he'll never leave.  He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and lived in Santa Monica early in his career.

Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, born 1948

Donna Summer, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines December 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the most successful solo female singers of all time.  She is the first artist to have three consecutive albums reach #1 on the Billboard 200 and had four singles reach #1 in a 12-month period.  She released 20 albums and won 5 Grammy awards:

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, 1979 for Last Dance
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, 1980 for Hot Stuff
Best Inspirational Performance, 1984 for He's a Rebel
Best Inspirational Performance, 1985 for Forgive Me
Best Dance Recording, 1998 for Carry On (with Giorgio Moroder)

She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Ms. Summer passed away May 17, 2012 at her home in Naples, Florida.

Remembering Tom Petty (1950-2017)

I have to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of Tom Petty, but I did enjoy much of his music.  Tragically, he has passed away at 66 from cardiac arrest.  He first hit the charts with his band the Heartbreakers and that is when I heard him, mainly his videos on MTV.  Don't Do Me Like That is probably the first song I remember hearing of his.  It's from his Damn the Torpedoes album that has been listed as one of Rollings Stones best 500 Rock Albums of all time!

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

May he rest in peace.

My favorite song of his is Learning to Fly.

Janet Jackson and The Cars nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2016

Janet Jackson, The Cars, Chicago and The Steve Miller Band have been nominated for induction into next year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Of the fifteen nominees, eight are on the list for the first time.  Chaka Khan and Cheap Trick are also first-timers.

The remaining seven have been here before, including Chic, who are up for the tenth time.  No other artists have been nominated this many times without being inducted.

I like Chic, but they didn't have many hits other than "Le Freak".  Janet should be a shoo-in with her work but I think The Cars, Chicago and The Steve Miller Band will be the ones inducted.  Still, I wish all the artists good luck this year.


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